CHPL’s Most Borrowed Books of 2023

Written by Joe Armstrong, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library

New authors and familiar favorites were among the most read books, eBooks, and audiobooks this year for Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library customers. With CHPL's total circulation this year at over 16,500,000, these popular materials earned a coveted title as the most popular books, eBooks, and audiobooks of 2023. 

Annual stalwarts John Grisham, Colleen Hoover, and James Patterson claimed many top 10 spots. Royalty graced the list with Price Harry Duke of Sussex's memoir "Spare" becoming a must-read for many customers. Bonnie Garmus' debut novel "Lessons in Chemistry" was another favorite, just as its Apple TV+ adaptation was released this year. Rebecca Yarros and Sarah Maas, both of whom are BookTok favorites, dominated the top audiobooks of the year with their "Empyrean" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series.

Find out the other most borrowed items this year at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library:

Most Borrowed Teen and Kids Books Most Borrowed Music Most Borrowed Movies

What were your favorite book of 2023? Let us know by commenting below!

Top Books

1. The Boys From Biloxi by John Grisham

2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

3. Simply Lies by David Baldacci

4. The House of Wolves by James Patterson

5. Spare by Prince Harry Duke of Sussex

6. Countdown by James Patterson

7. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

8. Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich

9. The 23rd Midnight by James Patterson

10. Desert Star by Michael Connelly

Top 10 eBooks

1. Verity by Colleen Hoover

2. Happy Place by Emily Henry

3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

4. Spare by Prince Harry Duke of Sussex

5. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

6. It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

7. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

8. A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

9. The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

10.Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Top 10 Audiobooks

1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

2. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas

4. Spare by Prince Harry Duke of Sussex

5. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

6. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

7. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah Maas

8. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

9. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

10.Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus